MS Sagafjord

'MS Sagafjord''' was an ocean liner built in 1965 by Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée for Norwegian America Line as a combined ocean liner/cruise ship. Between 1983 and 1996 the Sagafjord was operated by Cunard Line. In 1996–1997 she was briefly operated by Transocean Tours as 'MS Gripsholm prior to being sold to Saga. She was last owned and operated by Saga Cruises on worldwide cruises targeted at the senior market out of the United Kingdom, known as the MS Saga Rose' . She was retired in 2009 and scrapped in 2010.

==Concept and construction== The Sagafjord was built by Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, France, who received the original plans and specifications for the vessel from the Norwegian America Line during the summer of 1960. The build contract was undertaken on 24 September 1962 and the keel finally laid on 21 June 1963 before her launch on 13 June 1964. She underwent sea trials from May until September in 1965 and was finally christened Sagafjord on 18 September 1965 in Toulon. The construction of the Sagafjord was so expensive that it put the shipyard out of business.